Groundbreaking leaders -- diverse fields

The Center gathers carefully selected expert practitioners from various fields—psychology, social work, marriage and family, pediatrics, neuropsychology, educational therapy, occupational therapy, parent education, assistive technology, nutrition, and on and on—with each practitioner offering a Whole Child perspective, grounded in the science of interpersonal neurobiology. Families who visit will receive multidisciplinary treatment that is consistent, well informed, relationally based, and always aimed at helping them thrive.

Tina Payne Bryson, PhD -- Executive Director

Dr. Tina Payne Bryson is the co-author of the New York Times Best Selling THE WHOLE-BRAIN CHILD and NO DRAMA DISCIPLINE. She is a pediatric and adolescent psychotherapist who makes frequent media appearances and conducts workshops all over the world. She earned her PhD from the University of Southern California, where her research explored attachment science, childrearing theory, and interpersonal neurobiology.Read more...

Annalise Kordell, LCSW -- Clinical Director

As a clinical social worker in private practice, Annalise works within a broad systems viewpoint, balancing attention to culture, environment, family, and individuals to achieve a sense of harmony and cohesion. With a background in supporting families and young people from diverse communities, Annalise is experienced in working with anxiety, trauma, adoption, and difficulties within family relationships. Read more...

Debra Hori, M.A.

Debra Hori is an Educational Therapist with a Master's Degree in Special Education. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Occidental College and years of practice at helping kids figure out what they need to do to learn, what they struggle with, and how their brains work, so they can get the information they need and practice it in the way that suits their brains. Read more...

Deborah Buckwalter, PhD

Dr. Deborah Buckwalter is an accomplished clinical psychologist with advanced training and nearly two decades of experience in psychological and neuropsychological assessment and treatment. She brings a life dedicated to personal growth, quality care, academic excellence and respect for the uniqueness of each individual into every session in her highly respected private practice in Pasadena, California. Read more...

Jamie Chaves, OTD, OTR/L

Dr. Chaves is a Pediatric Occupational Therapist who worked for years as a pediatric clinician and program manager of the occupational therapy department at Wellness Works Therapy in North Hollywood. She has undergraduate degrees in Health Science and Psychology, and a doctorate in occupational therapy. She's also certified in swallowing and feeding with a focus on pediatrics. Read more....

Christine Triano, LCSW

Christine Triano is a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist who specializes in the treatment of adolescents and young adults. Her strengths-based approach ensures that treatment not only addresses what's going wrong, but also identifies and nurtures what is going right. Christine integrates complementary methodologies to offer an approach tailored to the unique needs of each individual client. Read More...

Ashley Taylor, PsyD

Dr. Ashley Taylor is a licensed psychologist passionate about infant and early childhood mental health. She has worked for over ten years supporting young children and their families as they navigate challenging life events. Dr. Taylor works primarily with children 12 and under providing parent-child (dyadic) therapy, as well as developmental and psychoeducational evaluations. She helps children and families address a variety of concerns including childhood anxiety, depression, attention deficits, tantrums, potty training, sleep disturbances, developmental delays, and trauma. Read more....

Georgie Wisen-Vincent, LMFT, RPT-S

Georgie Wisen-Vincent specializes in play therapy, finding fun ways to incorporate play and creative arts therapies to help kids from the early years through adolescence. She is a licensed child and adolescent psychotherapist who has focused her work on helping kids grow in confidence, character, and creativity, using a child-centered approach to therapy. She playfully incorporates creative media and open-ended activities thoughtfully designed to expand your child’s inherent ability to imagine exciting new solutions to childhood’s biggest hurdles. Read more...

Jennifer Shim Lovers, LMFT

Jennifer Shim Lovers has worked with a wide range of children, teens, adults, and families for over 20 years. She specializes in supporting parents, especially moms, as they journey through the joys and challenges of parenthood. With experience as a therapist, teacher, pastor, and hospital chaplain, she believes that our lives are built on relationships. She therefore works from an attachment perspective in helping kids, families, and individuals. Read more...

Andrew Phillips, MFT

Andrew Phillips has seen a wide variety of child and adult clients dealing with depression and anxiety, grief and regret, and self-destructive behaviors. He has worked with children and adolescents for over ten years, clinically for four. Whatever the concern (self-esteem, emotional regulation, distorted/unhelpful thinking, behaviors, anxiety, screen time, social skills, etc.), he works to provide a safe and respectful environment for children and parents alike. Read more....

Claire Penn, MSW

Claire Penn is a Child and Family Therapist who is passionate about helping people strengthen their relationships and expand their insight and self-awareness in order to lead healthy, whole and harmonious lives. She provides individual, dyadic, family and group therapy to children, adolescents and families. Her clinical work is guided by a psychodynamic orientation from a relational and attachment-based perspective, and is informed by development, trauma and neurobiological theories. The basis of all her client work is the development of a safe and trusting relationship as a foundation for growth and change. Building on attuned communication and an enhanced ability to regulate emotion, individuals are empowered to navigate life’s ups and downs and increase resilience during times of stress. Read More...

Roisin Ching, M.S. CCC-SLP

Róisín (pronounced ROsheen) is a licensed speech and language pathologist who believes in the power of communication and relationship development. She has several years of experience working with children and adults in a therapeutic setting. Róisín earned her bachelors degree in Spanish and Cultural Studies at Occidental College and her Masters Degree in Communicative Disorders California State University, Northridge. Read more...

Francisco Chaves, PhD

Dr. Francisco Chaves helps individuals and couples understand and overcome barriers that get in the way of living a meaningful and fulfilling life; this can include professional, family, emotional, or interpersonal challenges. He is also a sports psychologist working with athletes, teams, and coaches in the LA area. Read more...

Justin Waring Crane, MS

Justin Waring Crane is a pediatric occupational therapist whose work with children has given her an understanding of the ways brains develop and are affected by the world. She will use this knowledge to teach your child skills for becoming more independent and comfortable dealing with all of the different sensations they experience day to day (sights, sounds, touch, taste). Her hope is that through collaboration with other professionals and with you, the parent, your child will feel more at ease and successful in differing environments, and you will better understand the ways in which your child takes in the surrounding world. Read more...

Allie Bowne Schreiner, LMFT

Allie Bowne Schreiner is a licensed marriage and family therapist with over nine years of experience practicing therapy with children, adolescents, adults and families and 20 years of experience working with children and families in various capacities. Allie works with youth, adults, couples and families experiencing anxiety, depression, postpartum issues, trauma, adoption challenges, infidelity, family struggles and life transitions. She enjoys working with families and new parents as they navigate the upheaval and joy that children bring. Read more...

Janel Umfress, MS, CCC-SLP

Janel Umfress is an educational therapist with an in-depth understanding of language-based learning disorders, a Master's degree in Communicative Disorders, a California Speech Language Pathology license, and a special education teaching credential. Read More...

Sloan Walsh

Sloan Walsh has been teaching Parent Education Classes since 2001. She spent a number of years as an Early Literacy Instructor training teachers, working with credential programs in local universities, guest lecturing at various venues, and collaborating with parents and teachers to promote literacy in the community. She is passionate about teaching moms and dads creative approaches to parenting through an understanding of the brain, mind, and body with an emphasis on living and loving from our whole hearts. For more information...

Tiffanie Hoang, MFA

Tiffanie Hoang is a leraning specialist who works with students to create individualized learning strategies and tools to better help them understand their own ways of learning, and to explore and appreciate the fullness of their personhood. She honors and builds upon a person’s strengths, and lives for moments where the wonder of one’s own resilience, unique mind, and sense of self bursts forth. She fosters communication with teachers and families to help children thrive not only in school, but in whatever arena their lives may take them. Read more...

Tami Millard, MA

Tami Millard has been an educational specialist and an educator for sixteen years, serving hundreds of children and their families in the San Gabriel Valley. She has all been a program director and an educational specialist for an educational therapy center. She is currently the Director of Learning Services at High Point Academy, a K-8 independent school in Pasadena, where she collaborates with teachers and parents to identify and serve the learning needs of students in the community. Read more...

Michelle Pantoja-Hooley, MSW, ASW

Michelle is a Child and Family Therapist who strives to support and strengthen the mental health and well being of children and families. She works to establish positive rapport to provide a safe and non-judgmental place for children and teens to begin the process of understanding how their thoughts and feelings affect the way they act. Understanding that there is a place to express “difficult” feelings provides the child with the first step towards discovering positive strategies to improve behaviors. Read more...

Johny Thomson, MA, MS, MFTI

Johny Thompson is a down-to-earth, culturally sensitive, and easy-to-connect-with therapist who has been working clinically since 2011. He speaks conversational Spanish, and he's not shy about working with children, adolescents, individuals, couples, and/or families in true crisis. Read more...

Karla Cardoza, MFTI

Karla's therapeutic approach is relationship-based, focusing on resiliency, attachment, mindfulness, and exploring the whole brain to promote the strengthening of relationships, emotional wellness, and a healthy lifestyle. If you are seeking a culturally sensitive therapist who can guide you and/or your child in achieving developmental success utilizing a holistic approach, then let her assist you in your parenting journey. Read more...

Melanie Dosen, MSW

Melanie is a clinical social worker in California who specializes in working with children, youth, and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families. With five years of clinical experience and nearly ten years of experience supporting individuals with developmental disabilities of all ages, Melanie offers a unique approach to addressing difficult behaviors, as well as the physical, emotional, and sensory regulation challenges that are often a big part of a child’s life. Read more...

Esther Chon, PhD, EdM

Dr. Esther Chon is a licensed clinical psychologist who is endorsed as a Parent-Infant Mental Health Specialist. Esther has experience working with parents and young children in biological, foster, and adoptive homes. Incorporating specialized training on brain development as well as knowledge about attachment styles allows her to provide a unique perspective on parent-child relationships and on the often mind boggling experience of parenting. Read more...

Robyn Shultz, MA

Robyn is a Marriage and Family Therapist who wholeheartedly dedicates her practice to serving children, adolescents & families particularly touched by foster care and/or adoption. As a transracial Korean adoptee, Robyn’s personal participation in post-adoption services including teen groups, mentor & mentee programs, living abroad in Korea, navigating birth family search & reunion experiences, and DNA testing have all deeply influenced and informed much of her professional perspectives. Both locally and globally, Robyn’s experience includes working within various in-home, educational, agency, residential and therapeutic settings. As a queer person of color, she is LGBTQ affirmative with a deep understanding of the multicultural issues that impact individuals and family systems. Read more...

Click on a picture above, or on a name below to learn about our clinicians. If you're ready to book a confidential consultation, scroll down to the bottom of this page.

Please note: The Center for Connection does not provide or perform therapeutic, psychological, or other professional services for which a license is required. Any professional services for which a license is required are provided solely and directly by licensed practitioners through their independent professional service businesses. These licensed practitioners are not employees of the Center for Connection.